The Reprint of the Sŏn’ga kwigam and Its Effect on Japan

Abstract

The Sŏn’ga kwigam 禅家亀鑑 was written by Ch’ŏnghŏ Hyujŏng 清虚休静 (1520–1604). However, this book was reprinted not only in Korea but also in Japan five times in the 17th century. These materials give us information about how Hyujŏng was evaluated by Japanese people and the Korea–Japan exchange of Buddhism in the 17th century.

As background to this publication in Japan of the Sŏn’ga kwigam, I emphasize the question of authenticity of the story of Kāśyapa smiling at the flower held up by the Buddha, and the emphasis Tianwang Daowu 天王道悟 (737–819) placed on the Linji lineage.